Gateshead

Gateshead's population grew in the 10 years leading up to 2011. At the same time there were changes in relationships, health and housing tenure.

The population passed 200,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Gateshead increased by 4.7%, from just over 191,000 to 200,000.

The addition of just under 9,100 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Gateshead was home to, on average, 10 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was higher than the average across the North East

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the North East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Gateshead

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Gateshead increased by one year, from 39 to 40 years.

This service economy area had a slightly lower average age than the North East and remained slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of about 4,500 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 3,000.

About 13% of people in Gateshead are aged between 20 and 29 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, North East and Gateshead by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

This area saw England's largest rise in the proportion of households with an unmarried couple.

In 2011, just under one in nine (11%) households in Gateshead had an unmarried couple, compared with 7.6% in 2001. The percentage with just a single person decreased from 33% to 33%.

Barnsley saw the next largest rise (from 9.0% to 12%).

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Gateshead increased by 3.3 percentage points

Percentage of households in Gateshead, the North East and England that had an unmarried couple, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Gateshead residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 13% to 8.0% in the decade to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (76%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 63% in 2001. The percentage of Gateshead residents that described their health as fair decreased from 24% to 16%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad decreased faster here than in any other local authority district across the North East. As a result, Gateshead became more healthy than the regional average 7.5% in the North East described their health as good in 2011).

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Gateshead decreased by 5.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Gateshead, the North East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing relationships in Gateshead

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased in Gateshead, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the North East, except Newcastle upon Tyne and Middlesbrough.

Across the North East, the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 11% to 12% between the last two censuses, while the proportion in nearby Newcastle upon Tyne fell from 11% to 10%.

In 2011, just under one in eight (12%) people aged 16 and over in Gateshead said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner, compared with 11% in 2001. The percentage that said they were married decreased from 50% to 45%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner was higher than across the North East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that that said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner across local authority areas in the North East and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Gateshead that rented privately increased from 6.3% to 12% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (28%) households lived in social housing, compared with 34% in 2001. The percentage of Gateshead households that owner their home increased from 58% to 58%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 14% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Gateshead increased by 6.1 percentage points

Percentage of households in Gateshead, the North East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

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